Applications have opened for a programme that trains young people to work as teaching assistants providing numeracy and literacy support to primary school pupils in poor communities.
The YearBeyond academic support programme provides work experience to unemployed young people aged 18 to 25 with matric certificates.
YearBeyond is a youth service partnership between the Western Cape government, the Community Chest of the Western Cape, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, the Jobs Fund and various NGOs.
As “YeBoneers”, successful candidates will be trained to help Grade 3 and Grade 4 pupils with maths and English both during and after school. They will be deployed to schools from March to November and work for a minimum of 40 hours a week.
Last year, 2201 teaching assistants completed their year of service with the programme.
The provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has run the programme since 2015, according to department spokeswoman Tania Colyn.
Applicants are referred to organisations in their areas which, in turn, find placement for them at schools.
Asiphe Khemtse, a programme mentor from the Waumbe Youth Development Centre in Fisantekraal said: “Waumbe is ready to be part of the programme again. We are just hoping youth could apply, especially those that are planning to take a gap year.”
Their teaching assistants from the programme increased from 29 in 2021 to 34 last year.
Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais said: “Our department wants to support our youth by offering these opportunities for them to get solid work experience. We encourage them to apply for this exciting programme as a first step towards becoming economically active and successful adults.”
Youth applying will be required to create a SA Youth Mobi profile or update their existing profile at yearbeyond.org. Other opportunities are also available on the website.
Applications close on Friday February 17.
